The Color Purple Contents
- The Color Purple: Social and political context
- The Color Purple: Religious and philosophical context
- The Color Purple: Literary context
- Textual help
- Letter 1
- Letter 2
- Letter 3
- Letter 4
- Letter 5
- Letter 6
- Letter 7
- Letter 8
- Letter 9
- Letter 10
- Letter 11
- Letter 12
- Letter 13
- Letter 14
- Letter 15
- Letter 16
- Letter 17
- Letter 18
- Letter 19
- Letter 20
- Letter 21
- Letter 22
- Letter 23
- Letter 24
- Letter 25
- Letter 26
- Letter 27
- Letter 28
- Letter 29
- Letter 30
- Letter 31
- Letter 32
- Letter 33
- Letter 34
- Letter 35
- Letter 36
- Letter 37
- Letter 38
- Letter 39
- Letter 40
- Letter 41
- Letter 42
- Letter 43
- Letter 44
- Letter 45
- Letter 46
- Letter 47
- Letter 48
- Letter 49
- Letter 50
- Letter 51
- Letter 52
- Letter 53
- Letter 54
- Letter 55
- Letter 56
- Letter 57
- Letter 58
- Letter 59
- Letter 60
- Letter 61
- Letter 62
- Letter 63
- Letter 64
- Letter 65
- Letter 66
- Letter 67
- Letter 68
- Letter 69
- Letter 70
- Letter 71
- Letter 72
- Letter 73
- Letter 74
- Letter 75
- Letter 76
- Letter 77
- Letter 78
- Letter 79
- Letter 80
- Letter 81
- Letter 82
- Letter 83
- Letter 84
- Letter 85
- Letter 86
- Letter 87
- Letter 88
- Letter 89
- Letter 90
Letter 32
Synopsis of Letter 32
Six months later, Harpo has changed a great deal. He has decided to convert his house into a juke-joint as a source of income and has persuaded his friend Swain to play jazz on his guitar (also called a ‘box’) so that customers can dance and be entertained.
Harpo tells Celie that he has learned many things about himself since Sofia left him. He has been told, by someone not named in this episode, that he is ‘cute’ and also that he is capable of making money because he is also ‘smart’. When Celie asks what Sofia thinks about Harpo’s plans, he states that Sofia will not come back and refuses to answer her when she asks the reason why.
Commentary on Letter 32
Harpo has now ceased to be an object of pity because he has gained confidence, obviously because of the new friend whose identity is not revealed here. His decision to convert his house into a juke-joint shows that his previous timidity has now been replaced by a stronger belief in his own ability and he is full of plans for the future.
Investigating Letter 32
- Do some research into juke-joints. Why were they regarded as disreputable places?
- What does Harpo's decision to build the juke-joint tell us about the way he has changed? (Add to your character notes on Harpo.)
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